Reviews

For anyone struggling to connect with a book in one format, my advice is simple: switch it up. I learned this firsthand while reading this book. Attempting the audiobook several times left me stuck in the first chapter. It wasn't until I grabbed the paperback that the story truly came alive for me. Settling in for 45 minutes each night became such a needed escape from my daily life, making it hard to set the book aside at bedtime. The urge for "just one more chapter" lingered until the very end.

This story delves into Merlin mythology, a realm I wasn't well-versed in. What surprised me most was its exploration of "root" magic, weaving together European and Black ancestral magic systems. The conflicts and connections between these worlds, mirrored in Bree's internal struggles, adding depth and tension to the narrative.

While I typically lean towards character-driven plots, the world-building in this book captivated me. There's even a touch of romance, though it didn't sway me strongly either way. However, younger me would've been smitten with Selwyn.

One aspect that occasionally grated on me was Bree's efforts to fit into an organization rife with racial prejudice. I believe in seeking spaces that celebrate us, not merely tolerate us. Nevertheless, the author skillfully explores these themes, enriching the story's layers.

codymorris's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5 stars

Loved the concept
Loved the world building (although took a few 100 pages to understand)
Loved the characters (although way too many for such a short book and some fell 1 dimensional)
Loved the plot twist (didn't see it coming)
Loved the issues tackled throughout the book, loved that racism was clearly a big theme in the book and it was apparent ALL THROUGH the book instead of a one off random comment, it meant something to the story and played a huge part in the narrative (I loved how race was apparent straight away with our main character, it was insightful to see a fantasy world in the eyes of a POC character and truly get a feel for how that would be)

Parts of the book were confusing and it took me a lot longer than anticipated to get into the book, the writing style wasn't my favorite. Felt a bit clunky at times, hence the 4.5 stars.

koj_4reading's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

noni2002's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

Some moments were I was interested but took forever to read.
Felt like the writer had a checklist of what had to happen to a black character rather then it being something I was sympathetic with
Hated the she’s aurther twist.

britt_2002's review

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adventurous emotional

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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